| In many ways, school horses are like cars. If you | | | | Most school horses need to work daily in order to earn |
| change their oil regularly, limit their mileage wherever | | | | their keep, which is okay. However, it is imperative that |
| possible, take them to the mechanic whenever | | | | you limit the work you impose on your school horses, |
| something goes wrong, and give them plenty of love, | | | | as too much work can lead to tragic consequences. In |
| they're bound to last a good long while. The difference, | | | | an ideal world, and in my barn, school horses should |
| of course, is that school horses aren't machines, and | | | | only be ridden once a day, and they should get one |
| riding instructors need to keep this in mind. | | | | day off a week if at all possible. In some cases, school |
| A few years ago, I visited a friend in San Antonio, and | | | | horses might be ridden twice if their riders are young |
| we spent a day out at her barn with the horses. She | | | | and limited to the walk and trot. |
| owned three very handsome warmbloods, all of | | | | Older school horses, such as the seventeen-year-old |
| whom performed successfully in 3-day eventing, and | | | | Appaloosa who doesn't carry a rider heavier than 45 |
| she'd raved on and on about her riding instructor and | | | | pounds, should only be ridden a couple of times a |
| the stable where she housed her horses. | | | | week, and should be placed on supplements to |
| While we were grazing one of her mares on the | | | | maintain freedom of movement. If the old guy starts to |
| grass by the arena, I allowed my attention to drift to | | | | look like he's not enjoying the lessons anymore, he |
| the lesson that was currently in session with one of | | | | should probably be retired. |
| the instructors at the barn. There were six students in | | | | An Ounce of Prevention |
| the lesson, none of whom could have been older than | | | | Your school horses might look fit and sleek today, but |
| twelve, and they were obviously just entering the early | | | | you'd be surprised how fast they can run downhill. An |
| stages if intermediate riding. The important thing, | | | | ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a fortune in |
| however, was that their horses looked as though they | | | | vet and farrier bills, so make sure your school horses |
| were destined for the meat grinder. | | | | receive the maximum amount of care under your |
| Each of the horses had dirt on his sides, tangles in his | | | | management. |
| mane, and grass stains on his fetlocks. They looked as | | | | For example, if your school horses are starting to look |
| though they'd already been used in five lessons during | | | | a little skinny, beef up their diets with carbohydrate and |
| the day, and I secretly wondered if any of them had | | | | fat content. If they get a bit stiff in the hindquarters, talk |
| ever been given a bath. When I asked my friend about | | | | to your veterinarian about joint supplements or hock |
| the condition of these poor animals, her reply was | | | | injections. And if they seem to dehydrate more easily |
| simple: "Them? They're just school horses." | | | | during the hot summer months, add electrolytes to their |
| Not Just a School Horse | | | | feeding regimen to make sure they stay healthy and |
| It's true that many school horses are past their prime | | | | happy. |
| and headed for retirement land. They might be slightly | | | | Child-Labor Horsemanship |
| grungy looking, and perhaps they don't eat as well as | | | | In the same vein as the previous point, school horses |
| they used to, which is why many riding instructors treat | | | | also deserve the proper care for coat, hooves and |
| them as sub-standard animals. The reality, however, is | | | | hair. You might not have time to groom and bathe |
| that school horses provide an invaluable service, | | | | them on a regular basis, but your students are |
| without which you wouldn't be in business. | | | | perfectly capable of helping you with this. My students |
| A school horse deserves the same level of care as | | | | are required to thoroughly groom their horses (school |
| your six-figure show horse, if not better. Your show | | | | or otherwise) before they come to a lesson, and we |
| horse doesn't have to pack squirmy children around an | | | | have horsemanship classes in place of mounted |
| arena or stand in the blazing hot sun while you give a | | | | lessons once every two months. |
| lecture on proper hand position. Furthermore, if you | | | | Horsemanship lessons consist of bathing, clipping, |
| don't treat your school horses well, they will cripple in | | | | braiding, mucking and other activities that don't involve |
| just a couple of years from overwork and negligent | | | | riding. This not only teaches my students valuable |
| care. | | | | lessons, but helps to keep school horses in tip-top |
| The Daily Work Quota | | | | shape. |